GPS Antenna fix.

[Simi 60]

I have a Seiwa explorer 3 plotter on board with external "smart" antenna costing several hundred dollars that loses signal several times a day.
When its working it tracks a dozen sattelites but rarely more than 4 are green (good signal)
I suspect the antenna is on its way out.

I also have opencpn beside it on laptop using a $15 gmouse USB antenna running inside.
It never drops out, nor does my $40 phone or $100 tablet with navionics.

As I suspect the Seiwa antenna is on its way out and am loathed to spend $300 or more on a replacement when the $15 gmouse works so well I am wondering if I can get another gmouse, cut the seiwa and gmouse cords and rejoin together.
Then carry several gmouse spares.

The seiwa has a 6 pin plug with 4 pins being used
Not sure what wires run to USB plug on gmouse.

[smac999]

No... you're not going to connect a USB antenna to the back of a plotter.

Is the seiwa antenna nmea183? If so you can find other options. But getting harder to find. And still no cheap ones I'm aware of.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by smac999

No... you're not going to connect a USB antenna to the back of a plotter.

Is the seiwa antenna nmea183? If so you can find other options. But getting harder to find. And still no cheap ones I'm aware of.

Seems so.

Overview
Product Description

Seiwa GPS antenna is a compact, accurate and completely waterproof Satellite Differential GPS Receiver: 16 channels WAAS (North America), EGNOS (Europe), MSAS (Asia).

Its NMEA 0183 output allows connection to any SEIWA instrument.

The Antenna comes with a 10mt (3') cable.

Would I be correct in thinking that the antenna is on its way out if losing signal where my cheapy ones don't?
Or is it that my cheapy ones get glonass as well where the seiwa seems not to?

[Simi 60]

These nmea 0183 to USB cables are available
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...550240&alt=web
Which had me thinking I could go the other way and cut and connect USB GPS to nmea 0183 cable